Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-05-02
JOHN MlNTON.

The immense hag OF tho balloon ilIled
slowly with gas and began "a struggle
with the ropes which held it down, sway
ing from side 10 side as If II were eager
To take slight.
Outside the space inClosed by rope
was gathered nearly the entire population
of several mountain counties, some OF the
people having walked twenty miles and
carried baby only Ia visit the circus and
see the "b'loon gw'up. Inside the Ill
closure were two men on whom the eyes
of the assembly were fixed One was
swarthy little man, with a black mus
tache, dressed in tights. who walked
around with great sir of professional
sang froid.
He was advertised on the show bills
as Professor Zingari, the great ltal-
ian Aeronaut." but his real name WIS
Shanks, and he came from Mud
town, indiana The other man was not
SO easy Ia make ont at first sight. The
suit of homespun that clothed his tall,
lauk form showed that he was a resident
of the mountains: but this was sur
mounted by IA face full of eager wistful-
hess, which cunrrasted strangely and de-
Cidedly with the monotonously apathetlc
expression on the faces surrounding him.
From the conversation of the crowd, one
would soon gather that this was John
Minton. and that he intended making the
ascent with the professor which inten-
ton was discussed with great interest by
the multitude.
How high up have You ever been''
asked Minton of the professor.
''Oh. | don't know, he responded,
mot more'n Il mile or So
I'd like To 20 higher than anybody"
said Minton, with enthusiasm.
Il wouldn't" said the little man; "a
mile is high enough for me. 1t gets rs
cold rs the devil up there"
Ninson did not seem to notice this re
mark. but stood looking dreamily at 1.-The
sightless couriers of the air, drifting
lazliy through the blue ether, rs II he
would peer into their secrets.
Owing TO the delay that Invariably at
tends the fillng of a balloon, ii was very
near sunset before everything was ready
for the ascent.
Wen only 60 up a little ways and
then come down again, - said the professor,
who spoke English with remarkable free
dom for foreigner
Alta word from his companion. Minton
cast a rapid. half defiant glance around
upon the crowd. Yes, there she was, with
her eyes cast down and her cheeks burn
ing; she should see how little he cared for
her-then he seized the rope and climbed
vigorously into the wicker work car.
while the aeronaut seated himself below
in the trapeze.
Let her gor' shouted the professor, in
a stentOrian voice.
Ninton's eyes irresistibly sought ont
one figure in the mass of humanity below
She stretched forth her arms toward
him and tears sprang to her eyes. But
the next moment she seemed To drop away
from him suddenly, the cheer Of the spec
tatOrs died away like the sound of All or
gan when the dir fails, and the professor
fell out OF the trapeze backward and
caught by his feet in a way that made
shuddcr run through the assemblage,
now far below. After ascending steadily
for some time the balloon sprang sud
denly upward with "a joyous leap and Min
ton heard wild. vanishing cry, like the
yell which the multitude gave when they
left the earth. Looking over the side of
the car he perceived TO his horror that his
companion had disappeared.
He looked downward. All below was
wrapped in shallow, except that the sun
light still gilded the summit of old Bald
The eartl, had an indescrihably gloomy and
forbidding aspect. strange thrill of
exultation passed through him. He felt
a premonition OF the joy of a disembodied
spirit whose race has just begun
Leaning far out of the car, he
waved his hand toward the silent sombre
earth. and cried out, passionately. Far
well to You. far'well" He was seized
upon by an intense longing to dwell for
ever in this region Of pure ether and eter-
nal sunshine. Sprtnging up. he hurled
the bags Of ballast out Of the car, and
shouted aloud with insane Clee.
The mercury fell rapidly i'll the barome
ter, the vault Of heaven above him became
black. and sharp pain shot like light
ming to his heart.
The air grew intensely cold, blood
streamed from his mouth and hose, he
pressed his hand over his heart and sank
pautimg upon the floor Uf the car. Thank
God il j. all over" hc said. aS he lapsed
into mcUnSciouSnes~. For life had
not been "A happy one there hclOw on the
earth: il had been solitary and compan
iOnlesS and what a meaning l. there i'll
these words
How could it he otherwise Nature as
if 10 make amends for wasting her nobiest
beauties on IA stolidly Indifferent people,
had set down among them tins man with
a mind So keenly sensitive 10 her charms,
and 50 perfectly attuned TO hers, that he
reflected with unconscious and perfect
fidelity all her varying moods. as a still /
mountain lake, nesting among sheltering |
hills, mirrors without distortion the ever
changing sky pageant over ii. He did not, |
as yen and ] do with egOtistical sibjectiv !
ity, impose his own moods on nature. !
The thrilling eXuherance of spring time |
the Vnluptuous languor of summer, the |
dreamy peuSivrness of autumn. and the |
muurnful drcarineSs of winter in the |
mountains only relieved 10y the firelit in |
teriorS and the cheerful hum of the !
spinning wheel, all found in him perfels |
RESPONSE.
How should he find a symnathizer |
among these people who scarce could have |
found one among the most cultured and |
enlightened Thinking. i'll the simplicity |
OF his nature, that every one must See
thingS as lie saw them, but he sometimes |
attempted to express the emotions that |
surGei and swelled within his breast; but
each attempt met with painful and humil-
iatIng rebuffS. He broodeI over this diff
ference between himself and his mates
until he came TO regard it as a weakness
a something TO be ashamed of, and thus
ne calne 10 avoid human society more and
more. So he grew up solitary outcast,
passing often whole days upon the mount
aims without the sight of u human face
Alone with nature, his great mother
speedily cOmlurted him. She smiled upon
him from the heavens, careSsed him with
gentle brcezes and CroOned a lullaby over
him as he lay outstretched upon het
broad bosom: for him. and for him alone
did she array herself in the most delicate
Of Colors, for him she displayed those
uf the armament. What canvas
could equal thGt CXpanse of opalescent
SKY when III" sun sank down in cloudles.
Nplendor. Could the skill of any painte,
hope 10 initiate those splendid bursts of
color, when the king of day rose over the
distant mountain tops with a royal smile'
Alas how are our eyes blinded, Ten
thousand dollars for feeble imitation,
bur nothing for the great original.